I almost forgot about this post, you guys, since these holiday days are running together. But here I am. Notice the number up above. ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-NINE. I am not even making that up. Next week, the first Sunday of 2011, we’ll all be kickin’ it 200-style. Two hundred weeks of taking some time here at 7-Imp to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. Whew. Pretty neat timing, huh?

I’m going to forego seven separate kicks this week (by all means, leave your seven kicks, though) and simply say hi and, once again, happy holidays. I’ve been short-and-sweet posting some holiday illustrations this week, one for each day, thanks to some nice illustrators, so if you missed ‘em, go have a look. Today’s illustrations are from the one and only Julie Paschkis, who has graced this blog many a’times, seeing as how I’m a huge fan.

My one big kick right now is that I get to see some dear long-distance friends this week, and that includes Eisha, who’s in town. Yes, seven woots for a girls’ night out, as we plan to hit the town one night this week, have a generous amount of wine (that’s my intention anyway), and catch up.

How about you? Did you kickers have a wonderful holiday? I hope so. Here’s one more image from Julie, and I thank her for sharing her art this morning.

1) Happy holidays to all!
2) On Monday, I’ll be recording songs for a new musical. I’m very flattered to be asked, and very excited to sing on the demo.
3) I gave an apple to a raccoon.
4) Sensible casting
5) Good books
6) Fixing things
7) What’s next!

Paschkis art: The little mouse in the collared coat, the folksy textures in the cats’ fur, the cool winter palette – love it.

Jules – on the verge of 200! Hats off to you! It’s a joy and honor to participate in your rich, thoughtful and beautiful-mage-filled blog.

LW – the queen of the concise list! Good books (yes!) key common ground here. I adore raccoons and envy your encounter. (Congrats on recording!) And see? my comments are longer than your whole list!

My kicks the day after Christmas:

1. That day-after-Christmas relaxation: eveyone enjoying their gifts, eating left-overs and just kicking back in the holiday lull. (sigh)

2. Sylvain Chomet’s new animation film “The Illusiontist”. Where his previous ‘Triplets of Belleville’ was a fanciful, energetic, eccentricity — ‘The Illusionist,’ is a slow, nearly-silent, very melancholy look at the drowning of vaudeville in the wave of rock & roll. Set in 1959 Paris & Edinburgh. The animation artistry is simply stunning; it’ll break your heart. See images at: http://www.lillusionniste-lefilm.com/#/images

3. a gift I asked for months ago and forgot about. (way to go, hubby!)

Little Willow, congrats on the demo! Very exciting. Break a leg. I know you will. Your last kick gave me a thrill.

Denise, we will forgive your drunken typing. All that Schnapps. Hee. Man, I just added The Illusionist to the ‘ol queueueueueu. It has an “unknown” availability, but I’ll wait patiently. …Love kick #4. (Anyone who asked me what I wanted this year didn’t have to be thoughtful. I meant it when I said I wanted iTunes gift cards to get caught up on lots of music I talked myself out of buying this year.) Yay for your sons — and your husband, too. What books did you get, and thanks for #7 and the blog compliments! The blog is blushing.

My quick kicks:
1. Christmas eve tradition of watching Love, Actually.
2. The peacefulness of house and animal-sitting.
3. Curling up on the sofa with a book for hours while it was cold and rainy outside.
4. Dinner with friends.
5. Thoughtful gestures.
6. Room to breathe.
7. Appreciation.

The artwork of Julie Paschkis is always a kick! I’m glad you get to visit with Eisha this week, too. Congratulations to Little Willow, too!

I’m currently sitting at my computer, waiting for dark blue toenails to dry so that I can go to bed relatively early. Lack of sleep contributed to a nasty Christmas cold. Here’s what I’m grateful for:

1. My mom’s in town.
2. My daughter has a new school to go to, and I believe the people there will be good to her.
3. My husband’s first art show was a success.
4. I finally have a healthy BMI.
5. My brother’s getting married.
6. Enough coffee-flavored milk.
7. Enough.

Funny how those animals (any animals?) can look so happy even without any expression on their faces.

Here I’ll go off-topic if I may to alert folks that if you google Al Franken/Huffington Post there are two good stories about the FCC making alarming rulings that would affect websites like this one regarding net neutrality. Corporate websites should be banned from “priority pricing” that lets them buy the fast lanes on the Internet, leaving us in the slow. We need a Paul Revere community of independent bloggers so we can alert each other to crucial upcoming FCC rulings and make our voices heard.